by leslierankowfinearts

THIS FALL, SIKKEMA JENKINS GALLERY IN CHELSEA HOSTED A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM THE OLIVER SCHOLARS PROGRAM TO MEET THE ARTIST, LEONARDO DREW WHO SPOKE ABOUT HIS SOLO EXHIBITION. SO MANY THANKS TO MEG MALLOY, PARTNER AND GALLERY FOUNDERS BRENT SIKKEMA AND MICHAEL JENKINS FOR THEIR WELCOMING INVITATION AND AN ENORMOUS APPLAUSE OF APPRECIATION TO LEONARDO DREW FOR SHARING HIS EXHIBIT AND INSPIRING PERSONAL HISTORY AS AN ARTIST WITH THIS SPECIAL GROUP OF STUDENTS.

Leonardo Drew is known for his abstract sculptural installations, which incorporate materials such as paper, rope, wood, paint chips, tree branches and roots, and sheet metal. In Drew’s hands, these raw materials are exhaustingly transformed to resemble debris. While artistically rooted in art movements of the 1950s and 60s including abstract expressionism, minimalism, and Arte Povera, Drew – influenced by non-Western philosophical traditions – views his work as a reflection of the cyclical nature of time, the continual processes of transformation, and the connectivity of all things. This is perhaps most evident in the artist’s practice of incorporating parts of earlier works into newer pieces, including several of the works on view in the current exhibition.

THE NEW YORK BASED OLIVER SCHOLARS PROGRAM PICKS THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS IN THE NEW YORK AREA AND GIVES THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES THE ENCOURAGEMENT, ACADEMIC AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO ATTEND AND BE SUCCESSFUL AT EXCELLENT INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOLS, BOARDING SCHOOLS AND RESPECTED COLLEGES.

JEANETTE CREWS, A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND OUTSTANDING OLIVER SCHOLAR, HAS CONTRIBUTED A WONDERFUL REFLECTION ON THIS EXPERIENCE IN TODAY’S LRFA BLOG. THANK YOU, JEANETTE!

Jeanette Crews

My name is Jeanette Crews. I’m a H.S. Senior and Oliver Scholar. On Tuesday October 4th I had an opportunity to visit the Sikkema Jenkins & Co. Gallery in Chelsea. Along with a group of other Oliver Scholars we were there to see an exhibit of the works of Artist Leonardo Drew.

I have a great passion for Art and hope to include Art and Education in my future endeavors. I have been to many of New York’s great art museums but this was my first official visit to an art gallery. I attended with my Dad and we arrived quite early. Upon walking in the door, we actually met Mr. Drew and had a brief conversation with him.

As I entered the main gallery space, my impression of Mr. Drew’s work was that it was a big sweeping piece that ran from the far right corner of the room and stretched all the way around to the front right side wall. Additional art works were on the left and back walls. First I thought it was one continuous art piece but it was also dozens of individual pieces arranged on the wall to look like a connected piece.

LEONARDO DREWNumber 77 (Detail)

Mr. Drew gave a presentation and spoke candidly about his background, both setbacks and successes. Also, he lets people interpret or appreciate the art however they wish, as long as they derive some sort of feeling. There was no right or wrong way to look at or understand his art; it was what you got (or didn’t get) from it, from your perspective. And none of that mattered because Mr. Drew is a person that doesn’t create art for others (opinions) but for self-expression; at least that’s my opinion. Mr. Drew also mentioned that he started out drawing cartoons and developed as a fine arts artist but moved on to more abstract forms using natural materials reclaimed or repurposed from nature and from discarded man made items. I was impressed by his commercial and cultural successes; he’s got his art works in renowned museums, galleries and shows. I was also impressed to know that he still has a thirst for learning new techniques; he was going to be traveling to China to learn special traditional style glazing (pottery/sculpture) techniques.

It was a great experience and helped me understand that no success comes easy but only with hard work and determination.

Mentor an Oliver Scholar!

HELPING TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF YOUNG, SMART AND EAGER STUDENTS TO REALIZE DREAMS OF FULFILLMENT AND SUCCESS IS AS GRATIFYING AS ANY 2017 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION COULD BE. HERE’S A LITTLE INFO ON THE OLIVER SCHOLARS MENTORING PROGRAM. MAKE A DIFFERENCE, OPEN A DOOR!

Oliver’s new mentoring program is for high school freshmen who are interested in having an adult role model and exploring college options.

Program Details1.5 year program4 hrs/month in person, email or phone contactQuarterly group eventsCustom mentor matches based on areas of interest and goalsCollaboratively explore career, college, volunteer & leadership opportunities with your mentee

Why Mentor an Oliver Scholar?You will serve as a positive role modelYou will support Scholars in their transition from public school to private schoolYou will be instrumental in helping a high school freshmen establish important life skills and build self-esteem

THE ART WORLD IS OFFICIALLY BACK IN BUSINESS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE FIRST FAIR OF THE SEASON, UNTITLED, IN SAN FRANCISCO. NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER OF TURON TRAVEL IS A FAN AND IN OUR NEXT LRFA BLOG PROVIDES A WEALTH OF INFORMATION NOT ONLY ABOUT THE FAIR ITSELF BUT THE MAGICAL CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.